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Panthers vs. Capitals prediction: Why Washington is favored to win Saturday's NHL matchup [1/17/2026]
Updated: | First published:
Written by Nick Slade, Chief Content Officer
Get Florida Panthers vs Washington Capitals predictions for NHL Saturday.
The Washington Capitals and Florida Panthers will lock horns in the NHL at Capital One Arena on Saturday, starting at 7:00 PM ET.
Based on the latest simulations, Dimers' advanced NHL model predicts the Capitals as the most likely winner of the Panthers vs. Capitals game.
This article offers further insights into Saturday's matchup, including projected goal scorers, best bets and player prop picks.
Panthers vs. Caps prediction: Who will win and cover?
Using innovative machine learning and data analysis, we have simulated the result of Saturday's NHL matchup between the Panthers and Capitals 10,000 times as part of our NHL predictions coverage.
Our independent predictive model gives the Capitals a 55% chance of defeating the Panthers.
According to our model, the Panthers (+1.5) have a 67% chance of covering the puck line, while the 6-goal over/under has a 51% chance of staying under.
Panthers vs. Capitals odds
We have researched the best NHL odds in America for this game, which are listed here:
| Bet Type | Panthers | Capitals |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | +1.5 (-210) | -1.5 (+185) |
| Moneyline | +122 | -140 |
| Total | o6 (-115) | u6 (-105) |
All odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.
Panthers vs. Capitals picks and best bet
After matching our predictions against the best current odds, we can reveal our picks for each of the major markets. Plus, find our best bet for the game below:
| Bet Type | Pick | Bet Now |
|---|---|---|
| Puck Line | Panthers +1.5 | -210 |
| Moneyline | Panthers | +122 |
| Total | Under 6 | -105 |
According to our NHL best bets, the top play to make on this game is Panthers to win.
Panthers vs. Capitals player props
Who will score a goal in Panthers vs. Capitals?
According to our model, Sam Reinhart is most likely to score an anytime goal in Panthers vs. Capitals.
Our projections give Reinhart a 44.9% chance of scoring a goal at Capital One Arena, while the star is a 9.3% chance of netting the first goal the game.
Anytime goal scorer predictions
Florida Panthers
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Sam Reinhart | 44.9% |
| Sam Bennett | 36.1% |
| Carter Verhaeghe | 31.8% |
| Anton Lundell | 24.5% |
| Evan Rodrigues | 20.3% |
Washington Capitals
| Player | Anytime Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Alex Ovechkin | 35.6% |
| Aliaksei Protas | 32.6% |
| Dylan Strome | 29.9% |
| Ethen Frank | 28.7% |
| Ryan Leonard | 26.1% |
First goal scorer predictions
Florida Panthers
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Sam Reinhart | 9.3% |
| Sam Bennett | 7.2% |
| Carter Verhaeghe | 6.2% |
| Anton Lundell | 4.6% |
| Evan Rodrigues | 3.3% |
Washington Capitals
| Player | First Goal Probability |
|---|---|
| Alex Ovechkin | 7.5% |
| Aliaksei Protas | 6.8% |
| Dylan Strome | 6.2% |
| Ethen Frank | 5.2% |
| Connor McMichael | 5.1% |
Panthers vs. Caps game-day updates and essential details
Saturday's matchup between the Capitals and Panthers at Capital One Arena is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM ET.
- Who: Florida Panthers vs. Washington Capitals
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM ET/4:00PM PT
- Venue: Capital One Arena
Conclusion
We predict the Capitals, with a 55% win probability, will likely beat the Panthers on Saturday.
AI and automation have enhanced this article to quickly deliver accurate Panthers vs. Capitals insights, with human oversight ensuring high editorial quality. Our predictions are based on the latest data to help you make informed decisions. For additional resources and advice on responsible gambling, please call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Nick Slade, with nearly two decades of experience, is the Chief Content Officer at Cipher Sports Technology Group, overseeing content for Dimers. He specializes in soccer, NBA, and NHL betting, leveraging predictive analytics and machine learning to provide accurate betting insights.
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